Posted on 03/19/2003 4:15:23 PM PST by jagrmeister
Yesterday, we conducted a strategy session (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/868480/posts) on Free Republic on how to respond to the latest remarks by Simon Renshaw, the Dixie Chicks manager. As the thread unfolded, the strategy has crystallized and I have compiled the suggestions into a document which articulates the goals, message, and action items. But first, a recap. We all know the Dixie Chicks went abroad and insulted the President. They then apologized. But now the Dixie Chicks manager has some harsh words for fans complaining to radio stations, describing them as "radical" "weasels" (his own words) engaged in "conspiracy". Now it's time for country music fans to counter-punch in the Dixie Chicks boycott- Round 2.
Observation: The strategy begins with the observation that Renshaw's comments categorize patriotic Dixie Chicks fans who had a legitimate grievance as "radical" "weasels" (his own words) with an agenda. Such disrespect for country music fans adds insult to injury, renders hollow the Dixie Chicks apology, and eviscerates any goodwill gained by Maines' apology. (if you disagree, please private message me; i'd like to keep the thread for those who support this observation and taking action)
Round 2 Strategy Basics: Renshaw said radio stations were being duped by Free Republic (which he then demonized in a dozen ways) and implied that the "public" did not object to the Dixie Chicks' remarks as much as Free Republic made it seem. We refuse to go for Renshaw's bait. The pressure felt by radio stations is indeed a genuine outpouring of indignation and not a cynical political ploy. Because we are independent people and we refuse to be boxed in and demonized, we intend to counter-punch as concerned country music fans, not conservatives or Freepers. Getting into a debate about the merits of Free Republic is a diversion.
Round 2 FREEPER Goal: As a result, we aim to...
1. Continue the boycott of the Dixie Chicks on radio stations and combat Renshaw's propaganda
2. Pressure Sony Music to rebuke Renshaw for his comments.
Round 2 Message: Here is the message that I spent a great deal of time (hours) honing for maximum efficicacy. Feel free to customize this message based on who you are using it with. Also feel free to change words, put it in your voice, etc. But I think the basic "message" is sound. Most of the time spent was choosing the angle at which to approach Renshaw's remarks and simplifying the argument- the emphasis was brevity.
"Simon Renshaw, manager for the Dixie Chicks, recently described country music fans who complained to their local radio station about the band's controversial remarks as "radical" "weasels" acting as part of a "conspiracy". By characterizing patriotic Dixie Chick fans in such a manner, he has rendered hollow the Dixie Chicks apology and eviscerated any goodwill gained by Maines' apology. Rather than acknowledging the genuine uproar that their comments fueled, the Dixie Chicks team is engaged in denial, conspiracy theory, and scapegoating. Rather than mend fences, the Dixie Chicks' representation has chosen to engage in name-calling against country music fans. I was willing to accept the Dixie Chicks apology but it appears that it was not made in good faith. These latest comments made by Dixie Chicks represenatation disrespect country music fans and add insult to injury. The boycot of the Dixie Chicks will continue until a genuine apology is made that respects sincerely the objections that countless patriotic fans have with the Dixie Chicks remarks."
*Let me know if you have any questions with the message. I'd be glad to clarify.
Round 2 Action Items:
1. Contact Radio Stations- Round 2. Emphasize "Message- Round 2" and stress loss of listeners. The Dixie Chicks are not out of the woods yet and this latest insult worsens matters. (In our communication, we may want to rebut the radio station's reply of "we can't practice censorship" ahead of time by justifying the request of their ban of the Dixie Chicks on "listener interest"). Once you do so, please post here. If by e-mail, no need to paste it here (maybe a synopsis) as no point in giving them the satisfaction of tracing the criticism back to Free Republic. *List of radio stations: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/863302/posts
2. Contact Sony Music a. We need to first begin with Sony Music's contact information (http://www.sonymusic.com/sony/corpcomm.html) and find out who was responsible for sending the memo to radio stations containing Renshaw's remarks. Post this information on this thread. b. Address Sony Music with why country music fans are indignant over Renshaw's remarks, how he have added fuel to fire of the boycott, nullified the apology. In other words, as a manager, he has done permanent damage to the reputation and sales of his band. Sony Music must disavow themselves of Renshaw's critical remarks of country music fans since the memo with Renshaw's remarks was distributed by Sony Music. Recommend his termination. ---
I heard that the Dixie Chicks radio airplay was down 15%. We will know that we are successful if we are able to keep their airplay down through constant pressure of radio stations.
Yes, what Natalie Maines said was goofy. But by reacting so forcefully against a sentence she uttered, you're treating her as if her words have some sort of sacred power. You're empowering the idea that what entertainers say is important -- when for weeks everybody around here has been pointing out, rightfully, that we shouldn't take celebrity opinion seriously.
Sure, don't buy her music anymore. Throw away your Dixie Chicks CDs and concert tickets. Whatever. But it's silly to sit here a week later making such a stink about something she said at a frickin concert. And why even give a second thought to what some band manager says about Free Republic? Who cares?! Are people around here that insecure about the reputation of Free Republic? If somebody says something untrue and outlandish, the best reaction is to show confidence and self-assuredness -- by ignoring it.
This whole episode has a sad resemblance to the kind of hair-trigger hypersensitivity we're used to seeing from the left, where every half-controversial sentence is parsed with the microscope of political correctness, and everyone puffs up their self-righteousness as they take "offense" at the words of others.
Think about it: Are any of you truly "offended," in the real sense of that word? Did her words actually cause you emotional pain? Are you really hurt?
Here's the part where someone will respond by saying, "If you don't like what we're doing, don't bother posting here," or, "If you don't like what we're doing, why are you reading this thread," blah blah blah.
From: Ian Andrew Bell
Subject: @F: Fwd: FW: MORE DIXIE CHICKS
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 11:29:22 -0800
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Begin forwarded message:
From: "DM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Mon Mar 17, 2003 11:19:29 AM US/Pacific
To: "Ian Andrew Bell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: FW: MORE DIXIE CHICKS
And a little more on the Dixie Babes…
?
?
Subject:MORE DIXIE CHICKS
?
Subject: THIS IS SCARY - The Dixie Chicks - Who Are The Fans? (A
Conspiracy!)
Simon Renshaw, the Chicks' manager, requests that this get forwarded to
you, since he doesn't have your direct E-mails.
Dear All,
The last couple of days have been very interesting, why does an artist exercising her rights of free speech create such a firestorm of media attention, and why are the "fans" responding the way they are? Sure, these are difficult times ? but the response from the fan's seems far too extreme
- that was until I received the following email from our contacts at Lipton, who had received it from a concerned citizen -? please read on:
Subject: Regarding Chicks - DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED
Hello
You should know that your company is being targetted by a radical right-wing online forum.? You are being "FReeped", which is the code word for an organized email/telephone effort attempting to solicit a desired response. Please go to http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/864728/posts
and http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/863398/posts
for evidence of this.
claims over 30,000 members.
The opinions on this forum are often racist, violent, and homophobic. I hope you will not feel pressured by them to change your policies. Keep in mind that they are very active and will give the appearance of a widespread reaction when in fact it's limited to their isolated group. These are not people you want to cater to, as you will see if you spend a little time observing them. And don't feel bad. Besides you, they are boycotting Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Mexico, Belgium, and 3/4 of hollywood.
They are so petty that they research goods they believe are produced by these nations and list them for boycotting. The dumb thing is they get it wrong half the time.
I will be very dissappointed with Lipton if it tries to appease these radicals. I would continue to buy Lipton regardless though :)
When we went to the site it was clear what was going on, this organization had not targeted Lipton for their campaign, they had selected the Chicks for "FReeping."
As we reviewed the site we came across a whole area that was devoted to the Chicks, and more specifically the activities of the campaign against them, check it out:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/dixiechicks
As you move around this area and start to look at specific threads you will see that these people have actively manipulated radio polls, and how proud they are of their handiwork.
Here's some of their exchanges regarding their specific attempts to manipulate radio polls, notice the advice given on trying to ensure that their manipulations remain disguised:
To: webfooter
Cat Country in Harrisburg has a poll on whether they should stop playing the Chicks. They attribute the quote to Natalie.
Current vote is 5 for and 5 against.
I would recommend only locals vote, but you FReepers can do what you want.
Shalom.
To: webfooter; LindaSOG; Kathy in Alaska; radu; bentfeather; southerngrit;
Bethbg79; All
One of the country stations in my area is boycotting them: Here's the link! Please freepmail them thanks! I have done so already!!
WCMS
38 posted on 03/13/2003 1:52 PM PST by MoJo2001 (God Bless Our Troops and Allies!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]
To: All
LOL!! Um, email them! Don't freepmail them! My bad!
39 posted on 03/13/2003 1:52 PM PST by MoJo2001 (God Bless Our Troops and
Allies!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies ]
To: MoJo2001
FReep Natalie Maines' hometown country station! Natelie Maines' home radio station (KLLL.com) and email address of the DJ's. Just in case anybody wants to drop them a friendly email about boycotting the Chicks. As a bonus, pappa and the family live here too, so you are sure to get noticed.
And here are the emails:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jon Steele)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Rick Gilbert)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Stacey James)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Tony Alexander)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jay Richards)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Kelly Greene)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Tommy Duncan)
The above is the tip of the iceberg,? you need to read it all, to believe it.
It is interesting that as I review the comments being made across bulletin boards hosted by ourselves, country radio stations, and by CMT, the similarity of the style of the invective ? vitriol cloaked in patriotism, very much what you will find on this site.
Let no one underestimate the power of this group, yesterday our web site was totally overrun and had to be closed down, our publicist's servers and telephone system failed under the weight of the calls. This is an extremely active and well organized group
As always the "squeaky wheel gets the grease" and these weasels know how to squeak.
Consider a radio station that receives 1,000 calls and emails from listeners demanding that they boycott the Chicks music, they ignore the fact that 17,500 fans have bought tickets to a show in a couple of months and seem to think that these 1,000 calls/emails are somehow reflective of their audiences' wishes. Yet, the box office at the local venue receives only 3 calls regarding the show and wanting to know if they can arrange to return the tickets! Now the authenticity of the 1,000 is in question!
I am shocked by what I see, I trust you will be too.
Best wishes,
Sr
Simon Renshaw
The Firm
9465 Wilshire Blvd
5th Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Tel: 310-860-8205
Fax: 310-860-8128
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RadioPro (TM)
Wrong! This is the part where someone says, "Now we have a forum and we can sound off and and we can have a voice of our own. We aren't dependent on the liberal media to give us a way to spread the word or organize ourselves so we don't have to pretend to be bigger than them and 'take it like a man' any more. Now we can make those rats pay for their thoughtless, uncaring, pampered stupidity and we can all shout with one voice, 'I AM MAD AS HELL AND I AIN'T GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE!'
hulkster
We'd need to bring in those oil well fire experts to put out the fat one.
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